Carpenter Salary in Durham, NC
Carpenters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $51,540 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,045 take-home, or $3,504 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,005
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$747
- North Carolina income tax$1,548
- Take-home pay$42,045
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,390 | $18.94 | $32,767 | $2,731 |
| 25th percentile | $44,510 | $21.40 | $36,677 | $3,056 |
| Median (50th) | $51,540 | $24.78 | $42,045 | $3,504 |
| 75th percentile | $60,380 | $29.03 | $48,795 | $4,066 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,260 | $30.41 | $50,994 | $4,250 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,540 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median carpenter's $42,045 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,091 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.35), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #159 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 159 | Durham, NC | $51,540 | $42,045 | $43,091 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $49,940
- Greensboro, NC — $49,910
- Asheville, NC — $51,290
- Wilmington, NC — $50,830
- Charlotte, NC — $50,960
- Raleigh, NC — $50,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Durham, NC?
The median carpenter salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $51,540 a year, or about $24.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,510 and $60,380.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $51,540 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $42,045 a year ($3,504 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,548 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,091 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #159 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,430
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,110
- Electrician — $59,220
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,820
- Construction Laborer — $46,560